Refrigeration system with purge using enrivonmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant

ABSTRACT

Refrigeration systems with a purge for removing non-condensables from an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant are provided. The refrigeration systems utilize an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant with a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150. The refrigeration systems further include a remover to remove refrigerant-harmful gases from the chiller refrigerant.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a refrigerationsystem with a purge. More particularly, the embodiments relate to arefrigeration system with a purge using an environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant.

BACKGROUND

Refrigeration systems such as centrifugal chillers, utilize low pressurechiller refrigerants such as CFC-11, CFC-113, HCFC-123 andmulti-pressure refrigerants such as CFC-114 and HFC-245fa to operate ata low pressure, e.g., less than atmospheric pressure, either at alltimes or under a set of operating or stand-down conditions.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein are directed to refrigeration systemswith a purge. The refrigeration systems employ anenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant, which is environmentallyfriendly, safe, and energy-efficient.

Environmental impacts of the chiller refrigerants are a growing concern.For example, from 2011 on, the European Union will phase outrefrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of more than, forexample, 150 in some refrigeration systems.

Environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants, with suitable propertiessuch as density, vapor pressure, heat of vaporization, and suitablechemical properties, which satisfy the requirements regarding safety andenvironment impacts, such as the European Union Standard discussedabove, can be utilized for refrigeration systems with a purge. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants are nonflammable or mildlyflammable, non-ozone depleting, energy efficient, low in toxicity,compatible with materials of construction, and are chemically stableover the life of the equipment.

In one embodiment, a refrigeration system is provided with a purge. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant utilized by therefrigeration system includes a composition including at least onechemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (E), R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3, tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloroethylene (E), 1,2dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene(Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane,1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, 1,1difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane, 1,1,1,2tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E), and 1,2difluorethene (Z). The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantsdescribed herein can satisfy the requirements regarding safety andenvironment impacts and energy-efficiency.

Environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants described herein can bemore environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and/or have moreapplications in refrigeration systems.

The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants can be unstable in anatmosphere with atmospheric gases such as, for example, oxygen and/ormoisture, which can shorten an atmospheric life of theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants. Chillers using theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants may include componentsthat operate at less than atmospheric pressure and it is possible foratmospheric gases to leak into the chiller which can lead to a breakdownof the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants in the chiller. Forexample, the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants can breakdownin the presence of oxygen, moisture or other atmospheric gases in thechiller, which can reduce an operational life of the chiller and/ordecrease the performance of the chiller, e.g., decreasing the energyefficiency.

Purges have been used to expel non-condensables such as, for example,moisture, air and other non-condensables, from refrigerant chillerswhile minimizing the loss of the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant in the process of removing such non-condensables. The purgescan be operatively independent of an operation status of the chillerrefrigerant.

However, in some embodiments, purges are provided so as to removerefrigerant-harmful gases, especially oxygen, fromenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants in a refrigeration system.The term “refrigerant-harmful gas” is used herein to refer torefrigerant-reactive atmospheric gases that can lead to a breakdown ofthe chiller refrigerant. The refrigerant-harmful gases include, forexample, oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydroxylradicals, chlorine radicals, nitrous oxides, etc.

Also, in some embodiments, the purge includes a remover to removerefrigerant-harmful gases from the chiller refrigerant. In someembodiments, the remover includes a scrubber.

In one embodiment, a refrigeration system includes a compressor, acondenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The compressor, thecondenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator are fluidlyconnected to form a refrigeration circuit. A purge is fluidly connectedto the condenser to receive a chiller refrigerant flowing through therefrigeration system from the condenser. The purge is configured toremove non-condensable gases from the chiller refrigerant. The chillerrefrigerant includes an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantthat has a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than150.

In one embodiment, a system for removing undesired materials from achiller refrigerant received from a refrigeration system includes apurge including an inlet to receive the chiller refrigerant from acondenser of the refrigeration system. The purge is configured to removeone or more non-condensable gases from the chiller refrigerant. Thepurge further includes an outlet to return the chiller refrigerant tothe refrigeration system. A remover is operatively connected to thepurge and configured to remove one or more refrigerant-harmful gasesfrom the chiller refrigerant.

In one embodiment, a method of conducting a refrigeration cycle includesdirecting an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant to acompressor, directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantfrom the compressor to a condenser, directing theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from the condenser to apurge, removing one or more non-condensable gases from the chillerrefrigerant, directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantback to the condenser, directing the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant from the condenser to an expansion device, directing theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from the expansion deviceto an evaporator, and directing the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant from the evaporator back to the compressor. The compressor,the condenser, the expansion device, the evaporator, and the purge arefluidly connected to form a refrigeration circuit to conduct therefrigeration cycle. The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigeranthas a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150.

In one embodiment, a method of removing undesired materials from achiller refrigerant of a refrigeration system includes receiving thechiller refrigerant from a condenser of the refrigeration system,removing, via a remover, one or more refrigerant-harmful gases from thechiller refrigerant, removing, via a purge, one or more non-condensablegases from the chiller refrigerant, and directing the chillerrefrigerant back to the refrigeration system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the drawings in which like reference numbersrepresent corresponding parts throughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a refrigerationsystem with a purge.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a purge.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the purge tank ofthe purge of FIG. 2, illustrating the components housed in the purgetank.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the purge tank of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 4 illustrating the waterseparation tube inlet area within the purge tank of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B illustrate an alternative environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant supply and return arrangement employing a singlesupply/return conduit as opposed to the separate supply conduit andreturn conduits illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C schematically illustrate the development of an airblanket within the purge tank.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a refrigerationsystem with a purge having a remover.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a purge witha remover.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a dry scrubber.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for removing contaminantsin environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants, according to oneembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein are directed to refrigeration systemswith a purge where the refrigeration systems utilize one or moreenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants having a specificcomposition.

A refrigerant is considered environmentally suitable when it has a 100year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150 metric tonsof carbon dioxide equivalent. GWP is a relative measure of how much heata greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere as compared to carbon dioxideas a reference. A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval,commonly 20, 100 or 500 years. GWP is expressed as a factor of carbondioxide (whose GWP is standardized to 1). The higher GWP potential for arefrigerant results in great potential to contribute to global climatechange.

In some embodiments, the purge can include a remover to removerefrigerant-harmful gases from the chiller refrigerant. In someembodiments, the remover can be a unit separate from the purge. In someembodiments, the remover can include a scrubber.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5 schematically illustrated is arefrigeration system 10, commonly known as a chiller, which can providechilled water for use in industrial processes or in the comfortconditioning of building structures. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,the chiller 10 is a centrifugal chiller of the packaged type whichincludes a condenser 12, an expansion device 14, an evaporator 16 and acompressor 18. The condenser 12, the expansion device 14, the evaporator16 and the compressor 18 are all serially connected to form ahermetically sealed closed-loop chiller refrigeration circuit.

The composition of the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantemployed by the chiller 10 can include at least one of:

1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (E), R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3, tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloroethylene (E), 1,2dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene(Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane,1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, 1,1difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane, 1,1,1,2tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E), and 1,2difluorethene (Z).

It will be appreciated that the composition of theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant can include anycombinations of the above chemicals. It is to be understood that any ofthe environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerants can be used incombination with one or more less environmentally suitable refrigerantsto form a mixture of refrigerants that has an acceptable environmentproperty.

The amount of the above listed chemicals in the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant can be in a range of, for example, 40% to 100% byweight.

The composition of the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant caninclude other components, including, for example, lubricant,compatibilizer, stabilizers, surfactants, inhibitors, and solubilizingagents.

The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant may be a low pressurerefrigerant. A low pressure refrigerant is a compound or mixture thathas a vapor pressure less than, for example, about 14.7 pounds persquare inch absolute (psia) at about 0° F. Because certain components,including the evaporator 16 and, under certain conditions, the condenser12 of the chiller 10, may operate at lower than atmospheric pressure, itis possible for non-condensables such as air and moisture to leak intothe chiller. These non-condensable elements make their way to and becometrapped in the condenser 12 with the result that the condensing pressureand compressor power requirements increase thereby reducing chillerefficiency and cooling capacity. It will be appreciated theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant can be medium pressurerefrigerants, and the chiller 10 can operate at or above the atmosphericpressure.

In order to remove such non-condensables from theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant, a purge 20 is employedwith the chiller 10. As will be more fully described, the purge 20 isconnected in a free-flow circulatory relationship with the condenser 12of the chiller 10 by supply and return lines 20 a and 20 b, both ofwhich open into a vapor space within the condenser 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the purge 20 can include an entirelyseparate and discrete hermetic refrigeration circuit which may employ arefrigerant different than the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant. For example, the refrigerant used in purge 20 can be arelatively high pressure refrigerant compared to theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant such as, for example, therefrigerant referred to as R-404A. In another embodiment, the purge 20can include one or more of the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerants, or a mixture of one or more environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerants and one or more less environmentally suitablechiller refrigerants. It will be appreciated that the refrigerant usedin the purge 20 can be any suitable refrigerant that can create a lowerevaporative temperature than the chiller refrigerant.

The purge 20 includes a refrigerant compressor 22 which is a componentof a purge condensing unit 24. The condensing unit 24 also includes afan 26 and a heat exchanger coil 28 to which the compressor 22discharges hot compressed purge refrigerant gas when the purge 20 is inoperation.

The fan 26, when operating, causes ambient air to move through the coil28 in a heat exchange relationship with the purge refrigerant passingfrom the compressor 22 to and through the coil 28. It will be noted thatwhile an air-cooled purge condensing unit can be used, as it avoids theneed to “hook-up” to a different cooling source such as water,condensing unit 24 could be cooled by an alternate cooling source.

The condensed purge refrigerant next leaves the coil 28 and passes toand through an expansion device 30. The expansion device 30, whichfunctions as a suction pressure regulator, reduces the temperature ofthe purge refrigerant to, for example, approximately 0° F. and maintainsit there by regulating the pressure of the purge refrigerant to a targetpressure.

The purge refrigerant next enters purge tank 32 which houses a purgecooling coil 34, through a purge coil inlet 64 (see FIG. 3). As will befurther explained, the purge cooling coil 34 functions as an evaporatorin the purge refrigeration circuit, by placing the relatively cold purgerefrigerant flowing therethrough into a heat exchange relationship withthe relatively warm environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vaporwhich is drawn into the purge tank 32. By the condensing of theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant on the purge cooling coil34, the removal of non-condensables from the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant is accomplished internal of the purge tank.

After passing through the cooling coil 34 and being vaporized in a heatexchange-relationship with the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant in the purge tank 32, the purge refrigerant flows out of thepurge tank 32 through a purge coil outlet 66 (see FIG. 3) and back tothe compressor 22. As will also be further explained, the temperature ofthe purge refrigerant gas passing from the coil 34 back to thecompressor 22 is sensed by a control switch 36 and is used incontrolling the operation of the purge 20 and the removal of air fromthe purge tank 32.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the components of the pump-out portion of thepurge 20. The pump-out portion of the purge 20 functions to remove airfrom the purge tank 32 and includes a solenoid valve 38, a flowrestrictor 40, such as a porous metal plug or capillary tube, and apump-out compressor 42. The function and operation of the pump-outportion will be discussed further below.

Referring primarily now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 4A, the purge tank 32 includesa cylindrical housing 44 closed at a first end by a top plate 46. Amounting flange 48 is disposed at the bottom of the purge tank 32 forcooperative attachment to a base plate 50 which is mounted on a mountingframe 52. The purge 20 can be mounted directly on or proximate to thechiller 10.

An O-ring or gasket 54 is disposed between the flange 48 and the baseplate 50 to create a seal therebetween. The O-ring or gasket 54 iscompressed between the flange 48 and the plate 50 by the disposition andtightening of a V-band clamp 56 therearound with the result being thatthe interior of the purge tank 32 is a volume which is closed off andsealed from the ambient. Opening into the interior of the purge tank 32is a tank drain 58 through which liquid within the purge tank 32 can beperiodically drained to allow for water removal and access to thecomponents interior of the purge tank 32 for purposes of servicing thosecomponents.

The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant circulates from a vaporspace in the chiller condenser 12 through the supply line 20 a and intothe purge tank 32 through an open-ended environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant vapor supply conduit 60. As earlier noted, theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant entering the purge tank 32through the open end of the supply conduit 60 undergoes a heat exchangerelationship with the purge refrigerant flowing through the purgecooling coil 34. As a result of this heat exchange process, theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant condenses and falls, in theliquid state, to the bottom of the purge tank 32. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant overflows into and isdirected back to the condenser 12 of the chiller 10 through the openupper end of an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant liquidreturn conduit 62 which connects to the return line 20 b. As isindicated above, the return line 20 b likewise opens into a vapor spacein the chiller condenser 12.

It will be noted that the purge tank 32 and the chiller condenser 12 areconnected by open ended supply and return conduit, i.e. the supply line20 a which connects to the open-ended inlet 60 in the purge tank 32 andthe open-ended liquid return conduit 62 which connects to the returnline 20 b. In some embodiments, there is no need for a mechanicalmechanism for restriction to or assistance in the circulation of theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from, to, through, or outof the purge tank 32.

The operation of the purge 20 relies on the thermal and pressuregradients between the purge tank 32 and the chiller condenser 12 whichdevelop as a result of the heat exchange process which occurs in thepurge tank 32. These gradients cause the natural circulation in aconvection-like process, of the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant into, through and out of the purge tank 32.

Mounted within the purge tank 32 are drier cores 68. The drier cores 68,which are commercially available porous moisture absorbing members, aregenerally cylindrical in nature, and internally define a generallycylindrical volume 70. The cylindrical volume 70 is closed at its upperend by a top plate 72. The drier cores 68 and the top plate 72 cooperateto define generally discrete volumes within the purge tank 32 which canbe generally characterized as the first volume 70 interior of the driercores 68 and a second volume 74 exterior thereof.

Extending upward from the bottom of the purge tank 32 is a waterseparation tube 76 which, as is best illustrated in FIG. 4A, definesopenings 78 in its lower portion. As will further be described, a poolof liquid environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant 82 can normallybe found at the bottom of the purge tank 32, below the lower end of thecooling coil 34. A sightglass 80 is disposed in the sidewall of thepurge tank 32 at a level which coincides with the height to which theopen-ended environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant liquid returnconduit 62 extends upward into the interior of the purge tank. It willbe noted that the return conduit 62 extends upward and opens into theinterior of the water separation tube 76 within the purge tank 32.

FIG. 4B illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the individualenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant supply conduit 60 and theindividual environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant return conduit62 are replaced by a single environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantsupply/return conduit 63 and in which the supply and return lines 20 aand 20 b are likewise replaced by a single supply/return conduit 20 ab.In this embodiment environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor isconducted into the purge tank 32 through the conduit 63 and is returnedto the chiller condenser 12, in a liquid state, through the conduit 63by overflowing and running down the interior side wall of the conduit 63even as the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vaporcirculates into the purge tank 32 through the supply/return conduit 63.

Because the liquid level interior of the purge tank 32 cannot exceed thesightglass level, due to the fact that excess liquid refrigerant canoverflow into the liquid return conduit 62 (or 63) and can flow back tothe chiller condenser 12, a view of the liquid at the sightglass levelcan indicate the existence of any water floating on top of the pool ofthe liquid environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant 82 which existswithin the purge tank 32. The existence of a layer of water indicatesthe saturation of the drier cores 68 and the need to replace them.

Referring concurrently now to all of the drawing figures, it will beappreciated that the vapor of the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant, which can, to varying degrees, carry with it water vapor,air and other non-condensables, can be drawn into the purge tank 32through the supply conduit 60 which opens into the interior of the purgetank 32 above the liquid (e.g., the sightglass 80) level therein. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant flows into the volume 70which is defined by the top plate 72, the drier cores 68 and the surfaceof the pool of condensed refrigerant 82 found at the bottom of the purgetank.

The environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant, together with thenon-condensables it carries into the purge tank 32, diffuses through thedrier cores 68 which serve to remove moisture from theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant and remaining water vaporthen condenses on the surface of the purge coil 34 and falls to thebottom of purge tank 32. Air, being a non-condensable, is displacedupward to the top of the purge tank 32. The volume 70, which is definedinterior of drier cores 68 and under top plate 72, can be physicallyisolated from the portion of the purge tank 32 where separated air isfound.

If moisture is present in the liquid at the bottom of the purge tank 32,the portion of drier core 68 disposed in the liquid at the bottom of thepurge tank 32 can function to remove the remaining moisture until suchtime as the drier cores become saturated. When the drier cores 68 becomesaturated moisture can form as a liquid water layer on top of thecondensed liquid environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant 82 foundat the bottom of the purge tank 32. This water layer can be apparent asa distinct liquid layer when viewed through the sightglass 80. Waterwhich pools on top of the condensed environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant 82 can be prevented from returning to the chiller condenser12 by the water separation tube 76 which extends upward into the volume70 interior of the purge tank 32 to an elevation above the water layerin the pooled liquid environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant 82.

As has been noted, the open-ended chiller liquid refrigerant returnconduit 62, which likewise extends upward into the volume 70, opens intothe interior of the water separation tube 76. The water separation tube76 defines the openings 78 at its bottom so that liquid pooled at thevery bottom of the purge tank 32 is admitted into the interior of thewater separation tube 76. Because liquid environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant can be found at the location of the openings 78 ofthe water separation tube 76 within the purge tank 32, liquidenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant enters the water separationtube 76 and is returned, through the return conduit 62, to the chillercondenser 12. Liquid water can be maintained exterior of the waterseparation tube 76 on top of the pooled environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant 82 and can be isolated from the open end of the returnconduit 62 by the water separation tube 76.

As has been indicated, the purpose of the purge 20 is to remove air,water and other non-condensables from the chiller 10. Referringprimarily now to FIGS. 2, 5A, 5B, and 5C, it will be appreciated thatwhen there is little or no air 86 interior of the purge tank 32, thepurge coil 34 can be blanketed with the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant vapor 88. The purge coil 34 is sized such that when no airis present in the purge tank 32, the surface area of the coil 34 exposedto the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor 88 in thepurge tank 32 exceeds that which is required to produce a suctionsuperheat in the purge refrigerant circulating through the purge coolingcoil given the operating parameters and characteristics of the expansiondevice 30. Therefore, when no air is present in the purge tank 32,highly superheated purge refrigerant gas is returned to the purgecondenser 28 by way of the purge cooling coil 34 and the compressor 22.

The purge 20 is operational when the compressor 22 and the condensingunit 24 are energized. While the condensing unit 24, which is cooled byambient air, operates effectively over an ambient temperature range of,for example, from about 40° F. to about 140° F., as ambient temperaturesincrease, the capacity of the purge condensing unit 24 decreases therebyreducing the rate at which the purge 20 can remove air from the purgerefrigerant. Assuming “normal” operational conditions of no air in thepurge tank 32 and a 70° F. ambient air temperature, hot, compressedpurge refrigerant gas is discharged from the compressor 22 and isdirected to the heat exchanger 28.

The condensing unit fan 26 directs air, for example, the 70° F. ambientair, through the heat exchanger 28 of the condensing unit 24 in a heatexchange relationship with the purge refrigerant. The purge refrigerantexits the purge condensing unit 24 at a temperature of approximately 80°F. and is directed to the expansion device 30 which functions as asuction pressure regulating device within the purge 20.

The expansion device 30 regulates the pressure of the purge refrigerantto maintain an essentially constant pressure, on the order of, forexample, about 6 to about 9 pounds per square inch gauge (psig), andconstant temperature, on the order of, for example, 0 to −5° F., in thepurge refrigerant at the inlet 64 to purge coil 34. Theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor within the purge tank32 condenses on the surface of the purge coil 34 and falls to the bottomof the purge tank 32. The condensing of the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant within the purge tank 32 creates pressure gradientsbetween the purge tank 32 and the chiller condenser 12 thereby causingmore environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor, carryingnon-condensables and water vapor from the chiller condenser 12 to bedrawn into the purge tank 32 even as the condensedenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant overflows and back to thechiller condenser 12.

When there is no air in the purge tank 32, the purge refrigerantreturning to the purge compressor 22 from the purge cooling coil 34 isat a high superheat level which corresponds to the saturationtemperature in the chiller condenser 12. When the chiller 10 isoperating in a powered cooling mode, this temperature is on the orderof, for example, 80°-110° F. In the free cooling mode it can be as lowas, for example, 40° F. During a heat recovery mode of chilleroperation, the saturation temperature can exceed, for example, 110° F.

The high superheat level of the purge refrigerant can be sensed by thetemperature control switch 36. As air accumulates in the purge tank 32,displacing environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor within thepurge tank 32, the effective purge coil surface exposed to theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant decreases due to the muchless favorable heat exchange characteristics of the air as compared tothose of the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant. As a result,the available superheat to the purge refrigerant is reduced as is thetemperature of the purge refrigerant which is directed back to the purgecompressor 22.

As is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, as air isseparated from the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor88, above the liquid level 84 within the purge tank 32, more and moreair blankets the outside coil surface of the purge coil 34 starting atthe top of the coil 34 and moving downward through the purge tank 32.Since heat transfer from the purge refrigerant to the surrounding air ismuch less effective than that which occurs between the purge refrigerantand the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant in the purge tank32, progressively less and less surface of the purge coil 34 isavailable to superheat the purge refrigerant flowing through the purgecoil 34.

When the purge tank 32 fills with air to the extent that essentiallynone of the purge coil 34 is exposed to the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant, little or no superheating of the purge refrigerantwithin the coil 34 can occur. As a result, the temperature of the purgerefrigerant as it enters the purge coil 34 through the purge coil inlet64 (for example, 0 to −5° F.) and as it exits the purge coil through thereturn 66 for return to the compressor 22 can be essentially unchangedwhen the purge coil 34 is blanketed by air.

As is indicated in FIG. 2, the temperature of the purge refrigerantreturning from the purge coil 34 to the compressor 22 is sensed by thetemperature control switch 36 downstream of the purge coil outlet 66(see FIGS. 5A-C). When the temperature of the purge refrigerantreturning to the compressor 22 from the purge coil 34 drops to apredetermined level, such as for example approximately 20° F. as sensedby the temperature control switch 36, a signal is generated by thetemperature control switch 36 which is used to energize the solenoid 38and pump-out compressor 42 which causes the evacuation of air from purgetank 32 through a pump-out process.

As the air is removed from the purge tank 32 in a pump-out process, thepurge coil 34 is exposed to more and more environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant vapor which in turn causes the temperature of thepurge refrigerant being returned to the purge compressor 22 to increase.The temperature control switch 36 senses the increased temperature ofthe purge refrigerant and, when the temperature of the purge refrigerantincreases to a predetermined level indicating the removal of the airblanketing the purge coil 34 through the pump-out process signals forthe closing of the solenoid 38 and deenergization of the pump-outcompressor 42.

The solenoid 38 is used to seal the purge tank 32 when the pump-outportion is not activated and must seal the tank 32 from a vacuumcondition up to for example approximately 25 psig. The capillary tube orporous metal plug 40 is used to slow the venting action of the pump-outportion. The controlled evacuation of air from the purge tank 32 givesthe temperature control switch 36 time to more accurately track thechanging heat transfer conditions inside the purge tank 32. Thefrequency of the occurrence of the purge tank 32 evacuation may alsoindicate the existence of an air leak into the chiller 10.

A timer control (not shown) may be added to the system which provides ameans to override the pump-out portion controls. Under most conditionsthe purge tank pump-out lasts, for example, approximately 30 seconds. Anoverride timer would close the solenoid 38 and shutdown the pump-outcompressor 42 at a predetermined elapsed time should the pump-outcompressor 42 or the temperature control switch 36 fail or if a largeair leak developed within the chiller 10.

Because the purge 20 can employ an air-cooled condensing unit and can bea discrete hermetically sealed refrigeration circuit, it is capable ofoperation and of the purging of air from the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant whether the chiller 10 is running or not and that noadditional cooling source, such as water, is required. The purge 20 isalso a departure from those purges which employ environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant from a location within the chiller, other than achiller condenser, in a heat exchange relationship withenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant vapor from the condenser,to purge non-condensables from the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant vapor. Such systems typically require that the chiller be inoperation in order for the purge to function. The concept of a purge isfurther described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,410, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

It will be appreciated that the purge described herein is anillustration of one embodiment. Other suitable purges can be used forrefrigeration systems utilizing the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 6-7, embodiments of a refrigeration system or achiller 610 that includes a remover 670 a, are provided. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 6, the chiller 610 is a centrifugal chiller ofthe packaged type which includes a condenser 612, an expansion device614, an evaporator 616 and a compressor 618. The condenser 612, theexpansion device 614, the evaporator 616 and the compressor 618 are allserially connected to form a hermetically sealed closed-loop chillerrefrigeration circuit.

A purge 620 is employed with the chiller 610 to remove contaminants fromthe environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant. The purge 620 isconnected in a free-flow circulatory relationship with the condenser 612of the chiller 610 by supply and return lines 620 a and 620 b, both ofwhich open into a vapor space within the condenser 612.

Similar to the purge 20, the purge 620 includes a refrigerant compressor622 which is a component of a purge condensing unit 624. The condensingunit 624 also includes a fan 626 and a heat exchanger coil 628 to whichthe compressor 622 discharges hot compressed purge refrigerant gas whenthe purge 620 is in operation. The condensed purge refrigerant nextleaves the coil 628 and passes to and through an expansion device 630.The purge refrigerant next enters purge tank 632 which houses a purgecooling coil 634. A pump-out portion of the purge 620 includes asolenoid valve 638, a flow restrictor 640, such as a porous metal plugor capillary tube, and a pump-out compressor 642, and functions toremove air from the purge tank 632.

Optionally, the purge 620 can include a separation device for separatingnon-condensable gases from condensable environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant gases. The concept of a separation device is described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,564.

Optionally, the purge 620 can include an acid filter that is configuredto remove acid from the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant.The concept of an acid filter is described, for example, in a copendingU.S. provisional patent application No. 61/640193.

The embodiments described herein use an environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant. It is appreciated that the embodiments described herein canbe used for a chiller refrigerant other than theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant.

The refrigeration system 610 further includes the remover 670 a fortargeting and removing refrigerant-harmful gases from theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant. As shown in FIGS. 6-7, theremover 670 a is located at the supply line 620 a for removingrefrigerant-harmful gases from the refrigerant drawn from the condenser612. Optionally, a remover 670 b can also be located at the return line620 b for removing refrigerant-harmful gases from the refrigerantdirected back to the condenser 612.

The refrigerant-harmful gases can include, for example, oxygen, ozone,carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydroxyl radicals, chlorine radicals,hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, fluorine radicals, and/or nitrousoxides.

As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the remover 670 a is operatively connected to thepurge 620. In FIG. 7, the remover 670 a can be disposed inside the purge620 as a component of the purge 620.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the remover can be located outside thepurge. Optionally, in some embodiments, the remover can be embedded intoone or more components of the purge. Optionally, in some embodiments,the remover can be a separate unit from the purge.

In some embodiments, the remover can be a replaceable unit that isconvenient for servicing. For example, in some embodiments, the removercan be removed from the purge or the refrigeration system and can bedisposable in an environmentally friendly manner. A new remover can beinserted into the purge or the refrigeration system to replace the oldone.

In some embodiments, the remover can include a scrubber. The scrubbercan be a dry scrubber that can use, for example, via a bubble, orthrough a solid so that the refrigerant-harmful gases can be absorbed,adsorbed, transformed into other non-harmful species, or chemicallyneutralized, and removed from the chiller refrigerant.

In some embodiments, the remover can include a wet scrubber that uses aliquid spray or bubble through a liquid so that the refrigerant-harmfulgases can be absorbed, adsorbed, transformed into other non-harmfulspecies, or chemically neutralized, and removed from the chillerrefrigerant.

In some embodiments, the remover can include an effective scrubbermaterial that is relatively more reactive with the refrigerant-harmfulgases than with the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant. Theeffective scrubber material can include, for example, platinum,palladium or other noble metal, a sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) material, ahydrazine (N₂H₄) material, a quinone material, a cobalt salt, a lithiumsalt, a powder metal of iron and/or other oxygen reactive metal(s),activated aluminum oxide, a combination of any of the above materials,etc.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a scrubber 800 that includes aninlet 810, a chamber 820, a particulate control device 860 and an outlet850. A chiller refrigerant can be directed into the chamber 820 via theinlet 810 where a slurry of the effective scrubber material 830 issprayed into the chamber 820. The effective scrubber material 830 canabsorb and react with refrigerant-harmful gases to form non-harmfulspecies 840. The non-harmful species 840 can be collected or filtered bythe particulate control device 860. In some embodiments, the particulatecontrol device can include, for example, a filter or a precipitator. Thechiller refrigerant, free from the refrigerant-harmful gases, can bedirected out of the scrubber 800 via an outlet 850. In anotherembodiment, the scrubber 800 can include a stationary solid materialthat can react with refrigerant-harmful gases. It is to be understoodthat the scrubber 800 can be a dry scrubber or a wet scrubber.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a method 900 for removingcontaminants from a chiller refrigerant, according to one embodiment. At910, a chiller refrigerant that includes refrigerant-harmful gasesand/or other condensables can be drawn from a chiller, for example, fromthe condenser 612 of the chiller 610, into a remover, for example, theremover 670 a that is located at the supply line 620 a. The method 900then proceeds to 920.

At 920, the refrigerant-harmful gases are removed from the chillerrefrigerant by the remover. For example, in some embodiments, therefrigerant-harmful gases can be removed from the chiller refrigerant bythe remover 670 a or 670 b. The method 900 then proceeds to 940.

Optionally, in some embodiments, after the refrigerant-harmful gases areremoved from the chiller refrigerant by the remover, the method 900 canproceed to 930. At 930, the chiller refrigerant, free from therefrigerant-harmful gases, can be drawn into a purge tank, such as thepurge tank 632 shown in FIG. 7, to remove the rest of non-condensablesfrom the chiller refrigerant. The method 900 then proceeds to 940.

At 940, the chiller refrigerant is directed back to the condenser 612 ofthe chiller 610 through a return line, such as the return line 620 b.

It is noted that any of aspects 1-13 below can be combined with any ofaspects 14-20.

-   1. A refrigeration system, comprising:    -   a compressor;    -   a condenser;    -   an expansion device;    -   an evaporator;    -   the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the        evaporator are fluidly connected to form a refrigeration        circuit; and    -   a purge fluidly connected to the condenser to receive a chiller        refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration system from the        condenser, the purge configured to remove non-condensable gases        from the chiller refrigerant, and the chiller refrigerant        including an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant that        has a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less        than 150.-   2. The refrigeration system of aspect 1, wherein the    environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a composition    comprising:    -   at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E),        1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3        trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,3,3,3        tetrafluoropropene (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 1,2        dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3        trifluoropropene (Z), 1,1,3 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,        1,2 dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1        dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4        hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3        pentafluoropropane, Isopentane, and Pentane.-   3. The refrigeration system of aspects 1-2, wherein the amount of    the chemical in the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant is    in a range of about 40% to about 100% by weight.-   4. The refrigeration system of aspect 1, wherein the chiller    refrigerant further comprises at least one of a lubricant, a    compatibilizer, a stabilizer, a surfactant, an inhibitor, and a    solubilizing agent.-   5. The refrigeration system of aspect 1, wherein the purge uses a    purge refrigerant capable of creating a relatively lower evaporative    temperature than the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant.-   6. A system for removing undesired materials from a chiller    refrigerant received from a refrigeration system, comprising:    -   a purge including an inlet to receive the chiller refrigerant        from a condenser of the refrigeration system, the purge        configured to remove one or more non-condensable gases from the        chiller refrigerant, the purge further including an outlet to        return the chiller refrigerant to the refrigeration system; and    -   a remover operatively connected to the purge, the remover        configured to remove one or more refrigerant-harmful gases from        the chiller refrigerant.-   7. The system of aspect 6, wherein the remover includes a scrubber.-   8. The system of aspects 6-7, wherein the remover includes at least    one of a dry scrubber and a wet scrubber.-   9. The system of aspect 6, wherein the remover includes one or more    scrubber materials that are relatively more reactive with the    refrigerant-harmful gases than with the chiller refrigerant.-   10. The system of aspects 6-9, wherein the scrubber materials    include at least one of:    -   a noble metal, a sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) material, a hydrazine        (N₂H₄) material, a quinone material, a cobalt salt, a lithium        salt, an oxygen reactive metal, and activated aluminum oxide.-   11. The system of aspect 6, wherein the refrigerant-harmful gases    include at least one of oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon    monoxide, a hydroxyl radical, a chlorine radical, and a nitrous    oxide.-   12. The system of aspect 6, wherein the inlet of the purge is    fluidly connected to a supply line and the outlet of the purge is    fluidly connected to a return line, and the remover is located on at    least one of the supply line and the return line.-   13. The system of aspect 6, wherein the chiller refrigerant includes    an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant that has a 100 year    direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150, the    environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a composition    comprising:    -   at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E),        1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene        (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3        trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2        dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene        (E), R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,        tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2        dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1        dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4        hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3        hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3        hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, 1,1        difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane, 1,1,1,2        tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),        and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).-   14. A method of conducting a refrigeration cycle, comprising:    -   directing an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant to a        compressor;    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from        the compressor to a condenser;    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from        the condenser to a purge, and removing one or more        non-condensable gases from the chiller refrigerant;    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant back        to the condenser;    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from        the condenser to an expansion device;    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from        the expansion device to an evaporator; and    -   directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from        the evaporator back to the compressor,    -   wherein the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, the        evaporator, and the purge are fluidly connected to form a        refrigeration circuit to conduct the refrigeration cycle, and    -   the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a 100 year        direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150.-   15. The method of aspect 14, wherein the environmentally-suitable    chiller refrigerant having a composition comprising:    -   at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E),        1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene        (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3        trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2        dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene        (E), R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,        tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2        dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1        dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4        hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3        hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3        hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, 1,1        difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane, 1,1,1,2        tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),        and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).-   16. A method of removing undesired materials from a chiller    refrigerant of a refrigeration system, comprising:    -   receiving the chiller refrigerant from a condenser of the        refrigeration system;    -   removing, via a remover, one or more refrigerant-harmful gases        from the chiller refrigerant;    -   removing, via a purge, one or more non-condensable gases from        the chiller refrigerant; and    -   directing the chiller refrigerant back to the refrigeration        system.-   17. The method of aspect 16, wherein the remover includes a    scrubber, and removing the refrigerant-harmful gases from the    chiller refrigerant includes reacting the refrigerant-harmful gases    with one or more scrubber materials within the scrubber that are    relatively more reactive with the refrigerant-harmful gases than    with the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant.-   18. The method of aspects 16-17, wherein the scrubber materials    include at least one of:    -   a noble metal, a sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) material, a hydrazine        (N₂H₄) material, a quinone material, a cobalt salt, a lithium        salt, an oxygen reactive metal, and activated aluminum oxide.-   19. The method of aspect 16, wherein the refrigerant-harmful gases    include at least one of oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon    monoxide, hydroxyl radicals, chlorine radicals, and nitrous oxides.-   20. The method of aspect 16, wherein the chiller refrigerant    includes an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant that has a    100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than 150, the    environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a composition    comprising:    -   at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E),        1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene        (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3        trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2        dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene        (E), R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,        tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2        dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1        dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4        hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3        pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3        hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3        hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, 1,1        difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane, 1,1,1,2        tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),        and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).

With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood thatchanges may be made in detail, especially in matters of the constructionmaterials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the scope of the present invention. It isintended that the specification and depicted embodiment to be consideredexemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention beingindicated by the broad meaning of the claims.

What claimed is:
 1. A refrigeration system, comprising: a compressor; acondenser; an expansion device; an evaporator; the compressor, thecondenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator are fluidlyconnected to form a refrigeration circuit; and a purge fluidly connectedto the condenser to receive a chiller refrigerant flowing through therefrigeration system from the condenser, the purge configured to removenon-condensable gases from the chiller refrigerant, and the chillerrefrigerant including an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantthat has a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than150.
 2. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a compositioncomprising: at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(E), 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,3,3,3tetrafluoropropene (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 1,1,3 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloroethylene (E),1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,4,4,4hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E), 1,1,1,2,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane, Isopentane, andPentane.
 3. The refrigeration system of claim 2, wherein the amount ofthe chemical in the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant is in arange of about 40% to about 100% by weight.
 4. The refrigeration systemof claim 1, wherein the chiller refrigerant further comprises at leastone of a lubricant, a compatibilizer, a stabilizer, a surfactant, aninhibitor, and a solubilizing agent.
 5. The refrigeration system ofclaim 1, wherein the purge uses a purge refrigerant capable of creatinga relatively lower evaporative temperature than theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant.
 6. A system for removingundesired materials from a chiller refrigerant received from arefrigeration system, comprising: a purge including an inlet to receivethe chiller refrigerant from a condenser of the refrigeration system,the purge configured to remove one or more non-condensable gases fromthe chiller refrigerant, the purge further including an outlet to returnthe chiller refrigerant to the refrigeration system; and a removeroperatively connected to the purge, the remover configured to remove oneor more refrigerant-harmful gases from the chiller refrigerant.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the remover includes a scrubber.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the remover includes at least one of a dryscrubber and a wet scrubber.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein theremover includes one or more scrubber materials that are relatively morereactive with the refrigerant-harmful gases than with the chillerrefrigerant.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the scrubber materialsinclude at least one of: a noble metal, a sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃)material, a hydrazine (N₂H₄) material, a quinone material, a cobaltsalt, a lithium salt, an oxygen reactive metal, and activated aluminumoxide.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein the refrigerant-harmful gasesinclude at least one of oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,a hydroxyl radical, a chlorine radical, and a nitrous oxide.
 12. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the inlet of the purge is fluidly connectedto a supply line and the outlet of the purge is fluidly connected to areturn line, and the remover is located on at least one of the supplyline and the return line.
 13. The system of claim 6, wherein the chillerrefrigerant includes an environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantthat has a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of less than150, the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a compositioncomprising: at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(E), 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (E),R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene,1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E),1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane,cyclopentane, 1,1 difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane,1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).
 14. A method of conducting a refrigerationcycle, comprising: directing an environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant to a compressor; directing the environmentally-suitablechiller refrigerant from the compressor to a condenser; directing theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from the condenser to apurge, and removing one or more non-condensable gases from the chillerrefrigerant; directing the environmentally-suitable chiller refrigerantback to the condenser; directing the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant from the condenser to an expansion device; directing theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant from the expansion deviceto an evaporator; and directing the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant from the evaporator back to the compressor, wherein thecompressor, the condenser, the expansion device, the evaporator, and thepurge are fluidly connected to form a refrigeration circuit to conductthe refrigeration cycle, and the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant has a 100 year direct global warming potential (GWP) of lessthan
 150. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant having a compositioncomprising: at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(E), 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (E),R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene,1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E),1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane,cyclopentane, 1,1 difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane,1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).
 16. A method of removing undesired materialsfrom a chiller refrigerant of a refrigeration system, comprising:receiving the chiller refrigerant from a condenser of the refrigerationsystem; removing, via a remover, one or more refrigerant-harmful gasesfrom the chiller refrigerant; removing, via a purge, one or morenon-condensable gases from the chiller refrigerant; and directing thechiller refrigerant back to the refrigeration system.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the remover includes a scrubber, and removing therefrigerant-harmful gases from the chiller refrigerant includes reactingthe refrigerant-harmful gases with one or more scrubber materials withinthe scrubber that are relatively more reactive with therefrigerant-harmful gases than with the environmentally-suitable chillerrefrigerant.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the scrubber materialsinclude at least one of: a noble metal, a sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃)material, a hydrazine (N₂H₄) material, a quinone material, a cobaltsalt, a lithium salt, an oxygen reactive metal, and activated aluminumoxide.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the refrigerant-harmful gasesinclude at least one of oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,hydroxyl radicals, chlorine radicals, and nitrous oxides.
 20. The methodof claim 16, wherein the chiller refrigerant includes anenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant that has a 100 year directglobal warming potential (GWP) of less than 150, theenvironmentally-suitable chiller refrigerant has a compositioncomprising: at least one chemical of 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(E), 1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene,1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene(Z), 2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,1,dichloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene, 1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (E), 1,2dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene (Z), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (E),R1234ze (E), 1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene (Z), 2,3,3,3,tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene, 1,2dichloroethylene (E), 1,2 dichloroethylene (Z), 1,1 dichloroethylene,1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (Z), 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene (E),1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,3,3pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane, isopentane, pentane,cyclopentane, 1,1 difluoroethane, 1,2-difluoroethane, difluoromethane,1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane, 1,1 difluoroethene, 1,2 difluoroethene (E),and 1,2 difluorethene (Z).